Lesson 4: Building systems and green buildings
Juan owns a large commercial property in Montreal and has just installed a HVAC system that generates heat from a central boiler. Juan does not understand how the system works and asks you to explain the process to him. Place the following stages of the boiler-powered HVAC system in order of their occurrence. A. An expansion tank regulates the level of pressure in the heating loop. B. The heated fluid flows into radiators located throughout the building. C. A natural gas burner ignites air in the combustion chamber. D. Heated water vapour travels through the heat exchanger into a glycol heating loop. (1) C, D, A, B (2) D, A, C, B (3) C, D, B, A (4) D, C, B, A
(1) C, D, A, B The boiler will heat the building in the following steps: a natural gas burner ignites air in the combustion chamber; heated water vapour travels through the heat exchanger into a glycol heating loop; an expansion tank regulates the level of pressure in the heating loop; and the heated fluid flows into radiators located throughout the building.
Which of the following statements regarding LEED® and BOMA BEST® certification programs is TRUE? (1) LEED® certifications can be more complex than BOMA BEST®. (2) BOMA BEST® certifications can be more costly than LEED®. (3) The BOMA BEST® certification is only given to existing buildings. (4) The LEED® certification is only given to new buildings.
(1) LEED® certifications can be more complex than BOMA BEST®. The LEED® certification has received criticism for its cost and complexity, which has led to a relatively small number of LEED®-certified commercial projects - thus (2) is false. (3) is false. BOMA BEST® is best known for being a standard when it comes to existing buildings, but it also encompasses new construction as well. (4) is false; new and existing buildings can become LEED®- certified.
Which of the following statements is TRUE? (1) The additional expense of efficient windows can be offset with a thermal envelope with a high R-value. (2) Fluorescent lights have a lower cost per lumen than LED lights. (3) The cost of installation for compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) is never offset by electricity savings. (4) T-12 bulbs were most commonly used for residential use.
(1) The additional expense of efficient windows can be offset with a thermal envelope with a high R-value. The additional expense of efficient windows can be offset with a thermal envelope with a high R-value. (2) is false; fluorescent lights have a higher cost per lumen than LED lights. (3) is false; CFL bulbs are expensive to install but will provide significant electricity savings. (4) is false; T-12 bulbs were commonly used in office buildings.
What component is the most likely to be responsible for the thermostat in a room that activates the room's individual electric heater? (1) Zone level controllers (2) System level controllers (3) Operational level processors (4) Management level processors
(1) Zone level controllers Zone level controllers act directly on individual items, such as function
Which of the following is FALSE when considering the design of an electrical system? (1) Ensuring the electrical system can sustain the energy requirements of mechanical systems being used in the building (2) Evaluating the connected loads to ensure a sufficient level of electricity is supplied during peak seasonal loads (3) Coordinating the fuses and circuit breakers so that the flow of electricity is interrupted when a predetermined level of electrical current is breached (4) Evaluating the connected loads for unforeseen or additional requirements
(2) Evaluating the connected loads to ensure a sufficient level of electricity is supplied during peak seasonal loads The electrician does not evaluate connected loads for the purpose of identifying peak seasonal loads. This load does not account for the daily or seasonal variation in loads. It is the building's demand load that determines peak demand. Option (4) is true since connected load is the sum of all loads connected to each panel board or switch board and is evaluated to determine spare capacity. Options (1) and (3) are also true.
Which of the following regarding an integrated design process (IDP) is correct? (1) It discourages tradeoffs. (2) It can be used for both new buildings and renovations of existing buildings. (3) It improves decision-making outcomes, but at the cost of increasing project risk. (4) It focuses on individual building systems.
(2) It can be used for both new buildings and renovations of existing buildings. IDPs can be used in new construction or renovation. (1) is incorrect. IDPs encourage trade-offs and optimization, and identify savings. (3) is incorrect. IDPs can improve decision-making outcomes, while also reducing project risk. (4) is incorrect. IDPs focus on the whole building and its integrated systems and functions, rather than on individual building systems in isolation.
What component is the most likely to be responsible for the electricity needs to be shut off for a vacant floor in an office building? (1) Zone level controllers (2) System level controllers (3) Operational level processors (4) Management level processors
(2) System level controllers System level controllers control major equipment for a number of zones, either directly or through the zone level controllers; function
According to the chapter, what was different about Dockside Green's mixed-use green development advertising in Victoria, BC compared to the surrounding buildings? (1) Advertisers sold their services at reduced rates to Dockside Green. (2) The development used the green features incorporated into the property as a marketing advantage. (3) Dockside Green received government subsidies for its advertising budget. (4) None of the above
(2) The development used the green features incorporated into the property as a marketing advantage. There are many marketing benefits that come along with green buildings and sustainable design. Sustainable design has become the norm for most new high-quality commercial construction. Used correctly, green features can give a development a competitive edge over its competition.
Jeremy, the owner of a one-storey industrial property in Calgary, has concerns that the building may be "sick". He contacts the installer of his HVAC system and asks him to diagnose the problem. Which of the following statements is TRUE? (1) The building's indoor air quality (IAQ) is below the acceptable level, which requires uncontrolled air filtration to correct the problem. (2) The off gases created by a plastic material used on the shop floor may be the cause. (3) A stack effect has occurred in the building. (4) All of the above are true.
(2) The off gases created by a plastic material used on the shop floor may be the cause. Off gases from certain material can cause people to get sick. ASHRAE provides lists of common indoor pollutants and asbestos can build-up in its ventilation system, resulting in air contamination. (1) is false. The specialist may discover that the building's indoor air quality is below an acceptable level, but they would not advise the use of uncontrolled air filtration to correct the problem since it is undesirable; contemporary design aims to reduce this to zero. Instead, they would suggest providing an appropriate mixture of fresh and recycled air through proper natural or forced ventilation. (3) is false as the stack effect occurs in multi-level buildings and occurs due to the tendency of warm air in the building to rise to the upper floors.
You have purchased a large facility to store frozen fish before they are transported to the cannery, and will need to make some changes to the mechanical systems. What type of fire safety system should you install? (1) Deluge system only (2) Preaction system only (3) A combination of dry pipe and preaction systems (4) A combination of preaction and deluge systems
(3) A combination of dry pipe and preaction systems A combination of dry pipe and preaction systems are highly specialized and rarely used except in large commercial freezers. Like a dry pipe system, it can have sprinklers in areas where freezing temperatures occur, such as a commercial freezer. As well, it is activated by a mechanical or electronic device like a preaction system. The other systems could not sustain freezing temperatures.
In which of the following security systems is lighting important? (1) Screamer alarms (2) Motion detectors (3) CCTV (4) Intrusion detectors
(3) CCTV When a CCTV is used for surveillance, the designer has to ensure proper lighting for the viewing range of the camera, according to the manufacturer's specifications.
Which of the following statements regarding building ventilation is FALSE? (1) Forced ventilation is typically a series of fans and ducts that supply the specified volume of air through the building. (2) Air exchange equipment can be used to extract heat from exhaust air in order to pre-heat incoming fresh air, thus saving heating costs. (3) Excessive ventilation is the main cause of sick building syndrome. (4) Inadequate ventilation is the main cause of sick building syndrome.
(3) Excessive ventilation is the main cause of sick building syndrome. Sick building syndrome is caused by inadequate ventilation in "air-tight" buildings; uncontrolled ventilation (e.g., through unintentional openings) will help minimize this problem. In modern buildings, the ventilation system is typically a series of fans and ducts that supply the specified volume of air through the building. In winter, air exchange equipment can be used to extract heat from exhaust air in order to pre-heat incoming fresh air, thus saving heating costs.
Which of the following statements regarding lifecycle cost analysis (LCCA) is TRUE?? (1) It is beneficial for budget allocation. (2) It focuses only on cash inflows and outflows, disregarding analysis of building components. (3) It can test the long-term cost or benefit of a sustainable design investment for a building. (4) It has been replaced by lifecycle assessment (LCA).
(3) It can test the long-term cost or benefit of a sustainable design investment for a building. As LCCA's main goal is to determine the building design that optimizes the benefits of the whole system over the long term. To do this, a single component, such as an HVAC system, can be analyzed to determine if it will benefit the building in the long term, i.e., is it worth it to include this system in the building? (1) is incorrect as it is not useful for budget allocation as stated by the US National Institute of Standards and Technology. (2) is incorrect as LCCA is more focused on the cost and benefit of building components, rather than cash inflows and outflows, which is the traditional real estate investment analysis model.
Which of the following is NOT a sustainable design feature that would reduce long-run energy costs? (1) Installing low emissivity glazed windows (2) Re-lamping lighting with LED lights (3) Minimizing waste during the retrofitting process (4) Installing under-floor ducting and ventilation systems
(3) Minimizing waste during the retrofitting process (3) could be considered an element of sustainable design, but it is not an element that would reduce long-run energy costs. All other options are possible ways to reduce long-run energy costs.
What component is the most likely to be responsible for the cooling requirement for the entire building in response to occupant requests? (1) Zone level controllers (2) System level controllers (3) Operational level processors (4) Management level processors
(3) Operational level processors Operational level processors can exercise control over the various systems for the entire building
Which of the following is TRUE regarding incentives provided by the government in order to encourage landlords to undergo sustainable design retrofits for heritage buildings? (1) Heritage buildings are not allowed sustainable design retrofits. (2) More stringent building code requirements can be offered to the private sector. (3) Property tax exemptions can be offered to the private sector. (4) The government does not provide incentives to the private sector.
(3) Property tax exemptions can be offered to the private sector. Incentives that have been offered to the private sector include property tax exemptions and relaxed building code requirements - thus (2) is false. (1) is false as sustainable design retrofits are allowed on heritage buildings and are incentivized. (4) is false as the government does provide incentives to the private sector.
Which of the following elements of the building and its surroundings will the engineer include in the calculation of a structure's heat load in the design of a HVAC system? (1) The rate of air exchange in the building and the local climate (2) Heat generated by the building's lighting system (3) The amount of air entering the building through uncontrolled air infiltration (4) All of the above
(4) All of the above Since the engineer must consider all of the characteristics of the building and its surroundings, (4) is correct. The engineer will have to consider the local climate and the rate of air exchange inside the building in order to determine the maximum heat load. The engineer will also have to measure the amount of heat given off from the lighting system. The amount of air entering the building through uncontrolled air infiltration must also be considered, as this air intake may require additional heating
Why might investors feel that green buildings are risky to develop? (1) There may be a lack of integrated systems in the original building design. (2) Green buildings can require a period of time to calibrate building systems to optimize performance; this means that any cost savings may be delayed for several years. (3) When markets are declining or are in transition, forecasted increases in rent or declines in vacancy associated with green buildings may not be realistic. (4) All of the above are risks related to green building development
(4) All of the above are risks related to green building development (3): inflated and over-optimistic cost-benefit projections. When markets are declining or are in transition, the forecast increases in rent or declines in vacancy may not be realistic. (2): new buildings require a period of time to calibrate building systems (e.g., HVAC) to optimize performance. This means that any cost savings may be delayed for several years. (1): lack of integrated design in the original building design. The energy-efficient HVAC system may be under or oversized for the building in relation to the cumulative impact of solar exposure, daylighting, operable windows, and energy-efficient LED lighting (reduced heat emission).
In a green building where leases are fully net to the landlord (i.e., tenant pays all utilities and maintenance expenses), who will receive the benefits of energy savings? (1) Neither tenants nor landlords are likely to benefit. (2) Only landlords will benefit from energy savings. (3) Only tenants will benefit. (4) Both landlords and tenants are likely to benefit.
(4) Both landlords and tenants are likely to benefit. Where energy savings are available, both tenants and landlords are likely to benefit. Tenants will likely pay higher rent in order to capture the right to occupy a space with lower energy costs and other intangibles such as better lighting and enhanced air quality. This way, tenants receive benefits from the pleasant atmosphere which may also translate to improved customer service and the prestige of occupying a green building. Landlords receive the benefit of reduced operational costs and possibly higher rents.
Which building type is MOST likely to quickly recoup the energy related benefits of green building construction in the shortest period of time? (1) Warehouse (2) Residential apartment building (3) Shopping mall (4) Hospital
(4) Hospital Institutional properties (particularly hospitals) consume large amounts of energy. Green building design will likely offer these property types the largest energy savings in the shortest period of time
The property manager needs to analyze past false alarms to determine if fire detectors are set to an overly sensitive level. Which component will they look at? (1) Zone level controllers (2) System level controllers (3) Operational level processors (4) Management level processors
(4) Management level processors Management level processors can control all subsystems in an emergency, but are primarily used to collect and store system data for management.
What are the short-term benefits associated with green retrofits for commercial buildings.
- Greater natural lighting - Greater comfort and productivity - Improved tenant satisfaction - Utility credits and rebates
What are the long-term benefits associated with green retrofits for commercial buildings.
- Improved employee health - Reduced ecological footprint - Higher rents - Operational savings - Ultimately increased building value
What is the primary fire detection system most appropriate for a gas station storage room where motor oil and engine products are stored
For a gas station storage room where motor oil and engine products are stored (B), a smoke detector would be the most appropriate primary fire detection system because a large amount of smoke is generated by fires in oil products.
What is the primary fire detection system most appropriate for a sawmill containing highly combustible wood chips and extremely dusty air
For a sawmill containing highly combustible wood chips and extremely dusty air (C), a flame detector would be the most appropriate primary fire detection system because the dust would adversely affect the operation of an ionization or smoke detector system. In addition, a heat detector would not be activated quickly enough given the highly combustible wood chips.
What is the primary fire detection system most appropriate for the control room of a large industrial plant that contains all of the plant's electrical services ?
For the control room of a large industrial plant that contains all of the plant's electrical services (A), an ionization sensor would be the most appropriate primary fire detection system because it is the best system to detect electrical overloading.
Your client is developing an office building, but is considering not putting in a sprinkler system because he has heard that the water damage caused by the sprinklers can be more costly to repair than damage from having a fire. What would you recommend to your client?
It is true that sprinkler systems can cause damage to a building in extinguishing a fire, or if they are activated accidentally. However, the benefits of a good fire prevention system likely outweigh this negative effect. Sprinkler systems reduce insurance rates. In addition, during a fire a properly designed sprinkler system can limit fire damage by controlling the fire while it is still small. The water damage caused by the sprinklers can also be minimized by only activating the sprinklers in the area nearest the fire. This damage would likely be less than that caused by a fire department called in to put out a fire. Finally, a sprinkler system may have to be installed in any case as they are required by code in most larger commercial and industrial buildings.
Differentiate between lifecycle cost analysis (LCCA) and lifecycle assessment (LCA) analysis, and discuss how LCCA and LCA analysis impact green value.
Life cycle costing (LCC) and life cycle assessment (LCA) aim to evaluate and integrate the sustainability of a building in the long term. LCC considers the initial and ongoing costs against the long-term benefits of a particular product, technology, or system. The difference between LCCA and LCA is the intensity of the methodology. LCA is more rigourous and aims to include all the upstream and downstream impacts of a particular activity and integrate them with financial discounting. They also differ in that the LCA approach includes environmental impacts of the building such as resource extraction, demolition, and recycling/reuse/disposal. LCA is not typically used as a real estate financial analysis tool. LCCA and LCA allow building managers, architects, engineers, and others to evaluate the potential long-term environmental impact of re-designs, renovations, or newly constructed buildings.
Describe the path electricity takes from a power pole outside the building to a convenience plug inside. Describe each component along this path and briefly explain the purpose each component fulfils
Power Pole -> Transformer -> Meter -> Distribution Switch -> Distribution Panel -> Panelboard/Switchboard -> Fuse/Circuit Breaker -> Conducting Wires -> Convenience Plug Power is sent from the power pole outside the building along high voltage wires to a transformer, which "steps down" the voltage to lower building levels. The power then enters a meter (measuring electricity consumption), through a distribution switch (can shut down electricity for the entire building), and into the distribution panel. From there, the power may be sent through a panelboard or switchboard (a set of switches for separating power to different parts of the building - only found in more complex applications), through a fuse or circuit breaker (which protects local circuits from overload), and over conducting wires (e.g., copper) into the convenience plug.
What are some of the reasons that property owners and developers make the decision to invest in a green building?
Property owners and developers might be particularly interested in investing in a green building due to potentially lower vacancy rates, higher rents, lower operating costs, and improved property market value. With increased awareness of sustainability among the general public, some developers have developed purposefully to attain LEED or BOMA BEST certification and have been able to leverage green building principles to lower their marketing costs and obtain free publicity for their projects. Developers are also able to differentiate their building from competition through energy-efficient innovations. Additional reasons to invest in a green building involve governmental influences and legislations such as the requirement to clean up contaminated sites, the taxation of industrial emissions, and the provision of rebates for energy savings.
Assume you are the landlord of an older commercial building. What components of your building's operations would you consider first when investigating an energy retrofit. Why?
The components first considered for retrofit in an older commercial building are those that reduce energy use. Buildings typically use energy in three main ways: heating, lighting, and mechanical systems. These would be the first components considered when retrofitting an older commercial building because retrofitting them will allow for the greatest improvement in energy efficiency. The initial cost of HVAC system retrofits is expensive but can produce immediate energy cost savings and added thermal comfort for the building occupants. Lighting improvements could include re-lamping with energy efficient T-8 and LED lights, smart switches, digital controls, low emissivity window glazing, and day lighting or open designs.
What two factors affect the design of mechanical systems for different types of buildings?
The design of the mechanical system will vary depending upon the requirements of the owner and depending upon the code requirements given the use and occupancy of the building (Part 3 of the National Building Code).
Fire prevention systems are an important consideration when designing commercial and industrial buildings. Explain why a fire alarm is a crucial part of this system and briefly describe how a fire alarm operates.
The fire alarm is an early warning system for people in the building in case of fire. Fire alarms can either have automatic triggering devices, which are activated by heat and smoke detectors, or manual devices, which are activated by triggering boxes within the building. A combination of both systems is ideal. Alarms can use either bells, sirens, or horns, as long as the sound is easily heard over background noise in the building. The wiring of the alarm system is similar to the lighting, but it must be wired separately from all other wiring in the building, in order to protect it in case of fire. More hazardous uses require a higher concentration of sprinklers. The use of the building will affect the choice of components for the fire prevention system, such as the type of sprinkler pipes and heads, the alarm triggers needed, and type and volume of alarm required.
Two major components of a building's mechanical system are plumbing and HVAC. Briefly describe the function of each of these two systems.
The plumbing system provides potable water, removes sewage from the building, and provides water for the sprinkler system. The HVAC system is an environmental control system used to regulate air temperature and provide ventilation for the building.
Comment on the validity of the statement, "The economic benefits of energy-efficient design may be significantly greater than just the energy cost savings" (Romm, p. 13). Provide examples to illustrate your answer
There are a many economic benefits, other than energy cost savings, of energy-efficient design. Studies show sustainable building design can significantly improve the occupant's comfort, productivity and overall tenant satisfaction. Thus, rents may increase due to increased comforts. Energy-efficient design can also provide economic benefits to external parties, such as lower power generation costs for an electrical company or lower infrastructure costs for a water supplier. Utility credits or rebates may then be passed back to the owner or occupant of the green building. Since the energy-efficient design benefits both owners and occupants, this should be reflected in increased property value. As a result, there is a growing market for green buildings.
In general, how are sprinkler systems activated? If a building was described as having a dry-pipe sprinkler system with sidewall sprinklers, describe how the components of this system would operate in extinguishing a fire.
When a fire starts, the heat or smoke causes a small solder bead to melt. This activates the sprinkler system. In a dry-pipe sprinkler system, the pipes attached to the sprinkler heads contain air or nitrogen under pressure. When the sprinkler is activated, these gases are released, lowering the pressure in the pipe. This allows the water pressure of the main water supply pipes to open a valve and flow into the sprinkler system and out the sprinkler head. The pendant sprinkler heads spray water downwards onto a deflector, which spreads the water out.
